System and method for generating synthetic diamonds via atmospheric carbon capture

ABSTRACT

One variation of a method includes: ingesting an air sample captured during an air capture period at a target location for collection of a first mixture including carbon dioxide and a first concentration of impurities; conveying the first mixture through a liquefaction unit to generate a second mixture including carbon dioxide and a second concentration of impurities less than the first concentration of impurities; in a methanation reactor, mixing the second mixture with hydrogen to generate a first hydrocarbon mixture comprising a third concentration of impurities comprising nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen; conveying the first hydrocarbon mixture through a separation unit configured to remove impurities from the first hydrocarbon mixture to generate a second hydrocarbon a fourth concentration of impurities less than the third concentration of impurities; and depositing the second hydrocarbon mixture in a diamond reactor containing a set of diamond seeds to generate a first set of diamonds.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.17/314,018, filed on 6 May 2021, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 63/020,980, filed on 6 May 2020, each ofwhich is incorporated in its entirety by this reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to the field of diamond synthesis andmore specifically to a new and useful method for transformingatmospheric carbon into diamonds in the field of diamond synthesis.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a flowchart representation of a method;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart representation of one variation of the method;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart representation of one variation of the method;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart representation of one variation of the method;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are flowchart representations of one variation of themethod; and

FIG. 6 is a flowchart representation of one variation of the method.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The following description of embodiments of the invention is notintended to limit the invention to these embodiments but rather toenable a person skilled in the art to make and use this invention.Variations, configurations, implementations, example implementations,and examples described herein are optional and are not exclusive to thevariations, configurations, implementations, example implementations,and examples they describe. The invention described herein can includeany and all permutations of these variations, configurations,implementations, example implementations, and examples.

1. Method

As shown in FIGS. 1-6 , a method S100 includes: ingesting an air samplecaptured during an air capture period at a target location forcollection of a first mixture (e.g., a low-purity carbon dioxidemixture) from the air sample, the first mixture including carbon dioxideand a first concentration of impurities including nitrogen in BlockS110; storing the first mixture in a first container associated with thetarget location in Block S111; conveying the first mixture through apressurized unit to promote liquefaction of the first mixture togenerate a first exhaust stream including impurities including nitrogenand a second mixture (e.g., a high-purity carbon dioxide mixture)including carbon dioxide and a second concentration of impurities lessthan the first concentration of impurities in Block S120; in amethanation reactor, mixing the second mixture with a stream of hydrogento generate a first hydrocarbon mixture (e.g., a low-purity hydrocarbonprecursor) including hydrocarbons (e.g., methane) and a thirdconcentration of impurities including nitrogen, carbon dioxide, andhydrogen in Block S130; conveying the first hydrocarbon mixture througha separation unit configured to remove impurities from the firsthydrocarbon mixture to generate a second exhaust stream includingimpurities and a second hydrocarbon mixture (e.g., a high-purityhydrocarbon precursor) including hydrocarbons and a fourth concentrationof impurities less than the third concentration of impurities in BlockS140; and depositing the second hydrocarbon mixture in a diamond reactorcontaining a set of diamond seeds to generate a first set of diamondsvia chemical vapor deposition in Block S150.

In one variation, as shown in FIGS. 3-6 , the method S100 furtherincludes: generating an electronic sample file in Block S160; writing alocation identifier for the target location to the electronic samplefile in Block S162; and writing a first identifier arranged on the firstcontainer to the electronic sample file in Block S170. In anothervariation, as shown in FIG. 3 , the method S100 further includes:storing the second hydrocarbon mixture in a second container associatedwith the target location in Block S131; and linking a second identifierarranged on the second container to the electronic sample file in BlockS172.

In one variation, as shown in FIGS. 3-6 , the method S100 furtherincludes: writing a timestamp corresponding to the air capture period tothe electronic sample file in Block S164; and writing a sourceidentifier corresponding to a first source of the air sample to theelectronic sample file in Block S166.

In another variation, the method S100 further includes: accessing afirst diamond identifier assigned to a first diamond, in the first setof diamonds; and writing the first diamond identifier to the electronicsample file in Block S168. In this variation, the method S100 canfurther include, engraving the first diamond with the first diamondidentifier in Block S180.

In one variation, as shown in FIGS. 1-6 , the method S100 includes:ingesting an air sample captured during an air capture period at atarget location for collection of a first mixture from the air sample,the first mixture including carbon dioxide and a first concentration ofimpurities including nitrogen in Block S110; conveying the first mixturethrough a pressurized unit to promote liquefaction of the first mixtureto generate a second mixture including carbon dioxide and a secondconcentration of impurities less than the first concentration ofimpurities in Block S120; in a methanation reactor, mixing the secondmixture with a stream of hydrogen to generate a first hydrocarbonmixture including hydrocarbons and a third concentration of impuritiesincluding carbon dioxide and hydrogen in Block S130; conveying the firsthydrocarbon mixture through a separation unit configured to separateimpurities from the first hydrocarbon mixture to generate a secondhydrocarbon mixture including hydrocarbons and a fourth concentration ofimpurities less than the third concentration of impurities in BlockS140; and depositing the second hydrocarbon mixture in a diamond reactorcontaining a set of diamond seeds to generate a first set of diamonds inBlock S150. In this variation, the method S100 further includes, via acomputer system: generating an electronic sample file for the air samplein Block S160; writing a location identifier for the target location tothe electronic sample file in Block S162; and writing a diamondidentifier corresponding to a first diamond, in the first set ofdiamonds, to the electronic sample file in Block S168.

In one variation, as shown in FIGS. 1-6 , the method S100 includes:ingesting an air sample collected during an air capture period forextraction of a first mixture from the air sample, the first mixtureincluding carbon dioxide and a first concentration of impuritiesincluding nitrogen in Block S110; conveying the first mixture through apressurized unit at temperatures within a first temperature range topromote liquefaction of the first mixture to generate a first exhauststream including impurities including nitrogen and a second mixtureincluding carbon dioxide and a second concentration of impurities lessthan the first concentration of impurities in Block S120; in amethanation reactor, mixing the second mixture with a stream of hydrogento generate a first hydrocarbon mixture including hydrocarbons and athird concentration of impurities including nitrogen, carbon dioxide,and hydrogen in Block S130; conveying the first hydrocarbon mixturethrough a separation unit configured to remove impurities from thehydrocarbon mixture to generate a second exhaust stream includingimpurities and a second hydrocarbon mixture including hydrocarbons and afourth concentration of impurities less than the third concentration ofimpurities in Block S140; and depositing the final hydrocarbon mixturein a diamond reactor containing a set of diamond seeds to generate afirst set of diamonds via chemical vapor deposition in Block S150.

In one variation, as shown in FIGS. 1-6 , the method S100 includes:ingesting a first mixture extracted from a first air sample, the firstmixture including carbon dioxide and a first concentration of impuritiesincluding nitrogen in Block S110; conveying the first mixture through apressurized unit at temperatures within a first temperature range topromote liquefaction of the first mixture to generate a first exhauststream including impurities including nitrogen and a second mixtureincluding carbon dioxide and a second concentration of impurities lessthan the first concentration of impurities in Block S120; in amethanation reactor, mixing the second mixture with a stream of hydrogento generate a first hydrocarbon mixture including hydrocarbons and athird concentration of impurities including nitrogen, carbon dioxide,and hydrogen in Block S130; conveying the first hydrocarbon mixturethrough a separation unit configured to remove impurities from thehydrocarbon mixture to generate a second hydrocarbon mixture includinghydrocarbons and a fourth concentration of impurities less than thethird concentration of impurities in Block S140; and depositing thesecond hydrocarbon mixture in a diamond reactor containing a set ofdiamond seeds to generate a first set of diamonds via chemical vapordeposition in Block S150.

In one variation, as shown in FIGS. 1-6 , the method S100 includes:ingesting a first air sample collected during an air capture period toextract a first mixture including carbon dioxide and a firstconcentration of impurities including nitrogen in Block S110; conveyingthe first mixture through a first liquefaction unit configured to removeimpurities from the first mixture to generate a first exhaust streamincluding impurities including nitrogen and a second mixture includingcarbon dioxide and a second concentration of impurities less than thefirst concentration of impurities in Block S120; in a methanationreactor, mixing the second mixture with a stream of hydrogen to generatea first hydrocarbon mixture including hydrocarbons and a thirdconcentration of impurities including nitrogen, carbon dioxide, andhydrogen in Block S130; conveying the first hydrocarbon mixture througha second liquefaction unit configured to remove impurities from thesecond hydrocarbon mixture to generate a second exhaust stream includingimpurities and a second hydrocarbon mixture including hydrocarbons and afourth concentration of impurities less than the third concentration ofimpurities in Block S140; and depositing the second hydrocarbon mixturein a diamond reactor containing a set of diamond seeds to generate afirst set of diamonds via chemical vapor deposition in Block S150.

In one variation, as shown in FIGS. 1-6 , the method S100 includes:ingesting a first air sample collected during an air capture period toextract a first carbon dioxide mixture including a first concentrationof impurities including nitrogen in Block S110; transferring the firstcarbon dioxide mixture into a liquefaction unit configured to removeimpurities from the first carbon dioxide mixture to generate a firstexhaust stream including impurities including nitrogen and a secondcarbon dioxide mixture including a second concentration of impuritiesless than the first concentration of impurities in Block S120; in amethanation reactor, mixing the second carbon dioxide mixture with astream of hydrogen to generate a first hydrocarbon mixture including athird concentration of impurities including carbon dioxide, hydrogen,and water in Block S130; conveying the first hydrocarbon mixture througha set of filters configured to capture impurities including hydrogen andcarbon dioxide from the first hydrocarbon mixture to generate a secondhydrocarbon mixture including a fourth concentration of impurities lessthan the third concentration of impurities in Block S140; and depositingthe second hydrocarbon mixture in a diamond reactor containing a set ofdiamond seeds to generate a first set of diamonds via chemical vapordeposition in Block S150.

In one variation, as shown in FIGS. 1-6 , a method S100 for generating adiamond includes: extracting a first gaseous mixture of carbon dioxideand impurities from an air source, the gaseous mixture exhibiting afirst concentration of carbon dioxide and a first concentration ofimpurities in Block S110; condensing the first gaseous mixture vialiquefaction to generate a liquid mixture of carbon dioxide andimpurities, the liquid mixture exhibiting a second concentration ofcarbon dioxide greater than the first concentration of carbon dioxideand a second concentration of impurities less than the firstconcentration of impurities in Block S120; converting the liquid mixtureto a second gaseous mixture via an expander in Block S122; in a firstreactor, exposing the second gaseous mixture to a stream of hydrogen, inthe presence of a catalyst, to generate a hydrocarbon precursor viamethanation of the second gaseous mixture, the hydrocarbon precursorexhibiting a first concentration of methane, a third concentration ofcarbon dioxide and a third concentration of impurities in Block S130;and, in a diamond reactor at a set temperature, exposing the hydrocarbonprecursor to a diamond seed to generate a diamond via chemical vapordeposition in Block S150.

One variation of the method S100 further includes, prior to exposing thehydrocarbon precursor to the diamond seed in the diamond reactor:condensing the hydrocarbon precursor via liquefaction to increase thefirst concentration of methane exhibited by the hydrocarbon precursor toa second concentration of methane and reduce the third concentration ofimpurities to a fourth concentration of impurities in Block S140;converting the hydrocarbon precursor from a liquid state to a gaseousstate via an expander in Block S146; and purifying the hydrocarbonprecursor via absorption to increase the second concentration of methaneexhibited by the hydrocarbon precursor to a third concentration ofmethane and reduce the fourth concentration of impurities to a fifthconcentration of impurities in Block S136.

In one variation, the method S100 further includes, prior to methanationof the second gaseous mixture in the first reactor, cleaning the secondgaseous mixture via absorption to decrease the second concentration ofimpurities and increase the second concentration of carbon dioxideexhibited by the second gaseous mixture in Block S124.

2. Applications

Generally, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the method S100 can be executed:to directly capture a gaseous mixture of carbon dioxide and othercomponents found in air (e.g., Nitrogen, Argon, etc.) from an air source(e.g., re-circulated air within a building, outdoor air, air pollution,human breath); to process this gaseous mixture of carbon dioxide andother components—according to various chemical techniques and/or incombination with additional components—to form a hydrocarbon precursor;and to further react this hydrocarbon precursor to form a diamondproduct (e.g., a jewelry-grade diamond). In particular, the method S100includes: harvesting a low-purity carbon dioxide mixture via direct aircapture (e.g., via amine filtration) in a known location, at a knowntime, and/or near known people; transforming this low-purity mixtureinto a high-purity hydrocarbon precursor via a methanation process; andgenerating diamond crystals from this high-purity hydrocarbon precursorwithin a diamond reactor (e.g., a chemical vapor deposition reactor) toproduce ethically-sourced, lab-grown, carbon-negative, jewelry-gradediamonds associated with the known location, the known time, and/or theknown people. For example, the method S100 can be executed to extract acarbon dioxide mixture from atmospheric air and generate diamonds ofsufficient quality (e.g., size, cut, color, etc.) for jewelry (e.g.,type IIA diamonds) via a carbon-negative process from this carbondioxide mixture.

Traditional processes for generating lab-grown diamonds include sourcinghydrocarbons (e.g., fossil fuels) directly from the ground via mining,resulting in generation of pollution, release of greenhouse gases, andmineral and water waste. Conversely, the method S100 implements directcapture of a gaseous carbon dioxide mixture from the air and transformsthis mixture into a hydrocarbon precursor for diamond production. Forexample, Blocks of the method S100 can be executed to: capture thegaseous carbon dioxide mixture directly from ambient air (e.g., anywherein the world); transform this gaseous carbon dioxide mixture into ahydrocarbon precursor; and then transform this hydrocarbon precursorinto diamonds, thereby both removing airborne carbon dioxide waste andgenerating a valuable secondary product from excess carbon dioxide inambient air.

Further, by implementing direct air capture, the method S100 can extractcarbon dioxide from air captured in a particular location or place ofsignificance (e.g., to the diamond owner) such that diamonds generatedfrom this carbon dioxide can be linked to the particular location orplace. For example, a mobile carbon capture device can be deployed to aparticular location—such as a person's favorite vacation city, hometown,marriage proposal site, or honeymoon site or to a location of a sportingevent, political rally, or company event—to extract carbon dioxide fromair captured in this particular location according to Blocks of themethod S100. This carbon dioxide can then be further processed accordingto subsequent Blocks of the method S100 described below to generate adiamond from this carbon dioxide.

In particular, once captured from the air, the low-purity gaseous carbondioxide mixture can be purified via liquefaction to generate ahigh-purity liquid carbon dioxide mixture which can be further purifiedand/or filtered in order to achieve a threshold carbon dioxideconcentration. Once the high-purity liquid carbon dioxide mixturereaches the threshold carbon dioxide concentration, this high-purityliquid mixture can be converted to a high-purity gaseous carbon dioxidemixture which can then be reacted with hydrogen gas and/or other inertgases in a reactor, at specific temperatures, and under particularconditions according to the method in order to enable and controlmethanation of the gaseous carbon dioxide mixture to form a gaseoushydrocarbon mixture (or “hydrocarbon precursor”). This hydrocarbonprecursor can serve as an input to the diamond reactor or can be furtherpurified prior to generating a higher-purity hydrocarbon precursor inorder to decrease the concentration of impurities present in the diamondreactor.

In one variation, to further prepare this initial hydrocarbon precursorfor the reaction in the diamond reactor, the initial hydrocarbon mixturecan be further purified to generate a higher-purity hydrocarbonprecursor exhibiting a concentration of methane above a thresholdconcentration of methane (e.g., greater than 96.0 percent methane,greater than 99.95 percent methane, greater than 99.9995 percent). Forexample, the gaseous hydrocarbon mixture can be liquefied and runthrough an absorption cartridge to remove Nitrogen and other impuritiesfrom the mixture, and thus achieve the hydrocarbon precursor with aconcentration of methane above a threshold concentration of methane andan impurity (e.g., Nitrogen) concentration below a threshold impurityconcentration.

Once these threshold concentrations are met, the hydrocarbon precursorreacts under particular temperature and pressure conditions (e.g., hightemperatures) in the diamond reactor (e.g., chemical vapor depositionreactor) to generate diamond crystals. In one example, 10 kg of carbondioxide captured from the air can be further processed according to themethod S100 to generate approximately 80 carats of finished diamond.

A diamond thus produced according to the method S100 can then be linkedto the particular location, event, date, and/or people present near themobile carbon capture device when its originating carbon dioxide wascaptured. For example: a diamond can be engraved with a unique serialnumber; a file specifying a geospatial location, a date, a descriptionof a nearby event, and/or a list of people present can be generated andstored in a database; and this file can be linked to the unique serialnumber of this diamond, as shown in FIG. 3 .

Therefore, the method S100 can be executed to generate diamonds fromcarbon dioxide extracted directly from the atmosphere, thus benefitingthe environment by reducing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere andproviding an alternative to natural diamonds sourced via dangerous andenvironmentally-unfriendly practices. Furthermore, because thesediamonds are generated from carbon dioxide extracted from air capturedin a particular location, at a particular date and time, and/or near aparticular individual or group of people, these diamonds: can beuniquely associated with particular locations, times, dates, and peopleand therefore with individual stories; and can thus achieve greaterrelevance and importance to owners and wearers (e.g., than mineddiamonds).

3. “Clean” Diamond Production

The method S100 can be executed to generate “lab-grown” diamonds fromcarbon captured from the air. By extracting carbon from atmosphericcarbon dioxide captured from air, the method S100 enables diamondproduction via a carbon negative process. Additionally, the initialcapture of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere may negate or offset allcarbon emissions or a portion of carbon emissions generated duringchemical processes that occur during execution of the method S100, thusenabling a carbon-neutral or carbon-negative process.

Further, the method S100 can be executed via power harvested from arenewable power source. For example, the method includes reacting thehydrocarbon precursor via chemical vapor deposition to generate adiamond crystal. As shown in FIG. 2 , the electricity required to powerthe chemical vapor deposition reaction in Block S150 can be harvestedfrom a sustainable power source, such as wind, solar, or geothermal. Inone example, power is harvested from landfill gas. In another example,power is harvested from biogas (e.g., from farm waste). Additionally,power can be recycled within this process, such as by collecting aportion of the low-purity and/or high-purity hydrocarbon precursormixtures to power a set of power generators. Power produced by thesepower generators—in combination with power generated by the sustainablepower source (e.g., wind power source)—can be harvested to power thediamond reactor. Further, any excess power produced by the powergenerators or the sustainable power source can be returned to the powergrid and recycled for future power harvesting.

Similarly, the method S100 can implement a closed-loop process thatgenerates no water waste and recycles steam and cooling water within theclosed-loop process.

4. Air Capture

Block S110 of the method S100 recites ingesting a first mixture (e.g., alow-purity carbon dioxide mixture) extracted from a first air sample(e.g., via amine filtration), the first mixture including carbon dioxideand a first concentration of impurities including nitrogen. In onevariation, Block S110 of the method recites: extracting a gaseousmixture of carbon dioxide and impurities from an air source (e.g., viaamine filtration), the gaseous mixture exhibiting a first concentrationof carbon dioxide and a first concentration of impurities. The resultinggaseous mixture (i.e., the first mixture) is a low-purity gaseousmixture of carbon dioxide (e.g., less than 80.0 percent carbon dioxide).This low-purity carbon dioxide mixture also includes concentrations ofimpurities found in air such as Nitrogen, Argon, and other gases.

In one implementation, the low purity, gaseous carbon dioxide mixture isextracted from atmospheric air via amine filtration. In particular, inthis implementation, an air sample, including a first concentration ofcarbon dioxide, can be collected during an air capture period. An amountof carbon dioxide can then be extracted from the first air sample viafiltration (e.g., amine filtration). This amount of carbon dioxide canthen be heated, in a chamber, to generate a carbon dioxide mixtureincluding a second concentration of carbon dioxide greater than thefirst concentration of carbon dioxide. This carbon dioxide mixture canthen be stored in a container for further processing (e.g., at a secondlocation). For example, air can be drawn into a reservoir (e.g., withina carbon capture device) defining an opening through which air entersthe reservoir. The reservoir can include a filter arranged within theopening and configured to collect carbon dioxide molecules in the airflowing through the opening while enabling other particles in the air toflow through freely. Once the filter is saturated with carbon dioxide,the filter can be heated (e.g., to temperatures between 95 degreesCelsius and 120 degrees Celsius) to extract carbon dioxide gas from thefilter. Upon heating the filter, the gaseous carbon dioxide mixture isreleased from the filter. This gaseous carbon dioxide mixture can thenbe collected and stored (e.g., in a container). Later, the gaseouscarbon dioxide mixture (e.g., stored in the container) can be ingestedfor further processing.

In one implementation, direct air capture via amine filtration resultsin a low-purity gaseous carbon dioxide mixture exhibiting a carbondioxide concentration between seventy percent and eighty-five percent.The low-purity gaseous carbon dioxide mixture exhibits an impurityconcentration between fifteen percent and thirty percent, the impurityconcentration including a concentration of Nitrogen (e.g., in the formof NX compounds such as Nitrogen oxides and/or ammonia). Nitrogen,however, can be toxic to diamond crystal growth if present in thediamond reactor. Therefore, this initial low purity gaseous carbondioxide mixture can be further treated to increase the concentration ofcarbon dioxide and reduce the concentration of impurities in themixture. In particular, the low purity gaseous carbon dioxide mixturecan be purified via a liquefaction technique to reduce the concentrationof Nitrogen (e.g., in NX compounds) in the carbon dioxide mixture.

In one implementation, a mobile carbon capture device can be deployed tovarious locations to capture this gaseous carbon dioxide mixture fromatmospheric air. The mobile carbon capture device can include afiltering device for extracting the low-purity carbon dioxide mixtureand tanks for storing the carbon dioxide mixture. For example, themobile carbon capture device can be deployed to a particular region andextract carbon dioxide at a target rate (e.g., 10 kg/day, 100 kg/day,1000 kg/day). Therefore, the mobile carbon capture device can bothcapture air and filter the air to separate and store the low-puritycarbon dioxide mixture.

In another implementation, the carbon capture device is located in afixed location. In one example, the carbon capture device can be mountedto a building or structure (e.g., a laboratory, a power plant). Thefixed carbon capture device can collect and store low purity gaseouscarbon dioxide, which may be retrieved for further processing accordingto the method S100.

5. Carbon Dioxide Purification

Block S120 of the method S100 recites: conveying the first mixture(e.g., the low-purity carbon dioxide mixture) through a pressurized unit(e.g., a liquefaction unit) at temperatures within a first temperaturerange to promote liquefaction of the first mixture to generate a firstexhaust stream of impurities including nitrogen and a second mixture(e.g., a high-purity carbon dioxide mixture) including carbon dioxideand a second concentration of impurities less than the firstconcentration of impurities in the first mixture.

In one variation, Block S120 of the method S100 recites: condensing thegaseous carbon dioxide mixture (e.g., the low-purity carbon dioxidemixture) via liquefaction to generate a liquid mixture of carbon dioxideand impurities, the liquid mixture exhibiting a second concentration ofcarbon dioxide greater than the first concentration of carbon dioxideand a second concentration of impurities less than the firstconcentration of impurities. In this step, the low purity gaseous carbondioxide mixture is liquefied at low temperatures and with an appliedpressure to generate a higher purity liquid mixture. The resultinghigher purity liquid mixture of carbon dioxide exhibits a greaterconcentration of carbon dioxide and lower concentration of impurities(e.g., Nitrogen) than the input gaseous carbon dioxide mixture.

The liquefaction process includes subjecting the low purity carbondioxide mixture (e.g., within a storage Dewar) to temperatures below thecritical temperature of carbon dioxide (e.g., less than 31 degreesCelsius) and at pressures below the critical pressure of carbon dioxide(e.g., less than 73 bar). In one implementation, the low purity gaseouscarbon dioxide mixture is transferred to a cryogenic storage Dewar(e.g., with capacity between 50 L and 100 L) and held at a temperatureof approximately −20 degrees Celsius (±1 degree Celsius) and a pressureof approximately 20 Bar (±1 Bar). Under these conditions, the low puritygaseous carbon dioxide mixture can be liquefied and collected forfurther processing, while other gases (e.g., Hydrogen, Nitrogen) presentin the mixture do not liquefy and are reduced.

Once liquefaction of the low-purity gaseous carbon dioxide mixture iscomplete, the resulting liquid carbon dioxide mixture exhibits a higherconcentration of carbon dioxide than the initial low purity gaseouscarbon dioxide mixture. In one implementation, the liquid mixtureexhibits a carbon dioxide concentration greater than 95.0 percent and aconcentration of impurities (e.g., Hydrogen, trace amounts of Nitrogen)less than five percent. For example, a low purity gaseous carbon dioxidemixture exhibiting a first concentration of carbon dioxide of 70 percentand a first concentration of impurities of 30 percent can be liquefiedin a storage Dewar to generate a high purity liquid carbon dioxidemixture exhibiting a second concentration of carbon dioxide between 98percent and 99.5 percent and a second concentration of impuritiesbetween 0.5 percent and 2 percent.

The liquid carbon dioxide mixture can then be converted to a secondgaseous carbon dioxide mixture (e.g., a high purity gaseous carbondioxide mixture) via an expander in Block S122. Thus, the high purityliquid carbon dioxide mixture is converted back to a gaseous state inpreparation for methanation of the second gaseous carbon dioxidemixture.

In one variation, the method S100 includes Block S124 which recitescleaning the second gaseous carbon dioxide mixture via absorption todecrease the second concentration of impurities and increase the secondconcentration of carbon dioxide exhibited by the second gaseous carbondioxide mixture. In this variation, the second gaseous carbon dioxidemixture is further purified after liquefaction and expansion via anabsorption process which further removes impurities (e.g., Nitrogenoxides, ammonia) present in the second gaseous carbon dioxide mixture.The second gaseous carbon dioxide mixture can be run through anabsorption cartridge including a filter configured to react withimpurities present in the second gaseous carbon dioxide mixture and thusextract these impurities from the second gaseous carbon dioxide mixture.For example, the second gaseous carbon dioxide mixture can be runthrough an absorption cartridge at a flow rate between 8 Liters/minuteand 12 Liters/minute. Upon exiting the absorption cartridge, the secondgaseous carbon dioxide mixture can exhibit a Nitrogen concentration inthe parts-per-trillion (PPT) levels.

6. Hydrocarbon Precursor Synthesis

Block S130 of the method S100 recites: in a methanation reactor, mixingthe second mixture (e.g., a high-purity carbon dioxide mixture, a highpurity gaseous carbon dioxide mixture) with a stream of hydrogen togenerate a first hydrocarbon mixture (i.e., a hydrocarbon precursor)including hydrocarbons (e.g., methane) and a third concentration ofimpurities including nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen. In onevariation, Block S130 recites: in a first reactor, exposing the secondgaseous mixture to a stream of hydrogen, in the presence of a catalyst,to generate a hydrocarbon precursor via methanation of the secondgaseous mixture, the hydrocarbon precursor exhibiting a firstconcentration of methane, a third concentration of carbon dioxide and athird concentration of impurities.

Upon completion of the liquefaction, expansion and purification stepsdescribed above, the second gaseous carbon dioxide mixture (or “highpurity gaseous carbon dioxide mixture”) exhibits a carbon dioxideconcentration (e.g., greater than 95 percent) and an impurityconcentration (e.g., less than 5 percent) sufficient for the methanationreaction to occur. In particular, after liquefaction and beforemethanation, the high-purity gaseous carbon dioxide mixture can exhibitan NX (e.g., NO, NH₃) concentration less than 2 parts-per-billion (e.g.,1.2 parts-per-billion). For example, upon reaching a carbon dioxideconcentration at or above a threshold carbon dioxide concentration(e.g., at or above 95.0 percent carbon dioxide) and reducing aconcentration of Nitrogen to below a maximum Nitrogen concentration(e.g., below 2 parts-per-billion), the high-purity gaseous carbondioxide mixture can be treated with a stream of Hydrogen gas and/orother reactants at particular flowrates, temperatures, and pressures ina reactor configured for catalytic methanation, such that thehigh-purity gaseous carbon dioxide mixture is converted to a hydrocarbonmixture including methane.

In one implementation, the high-purity gaseous carbon dioxide mixture(e.g., greater than 95 percent carbon dioxide concentration) istransferred to a methanation reactor configured to promote a catalyticmethanation reaction. This methanation reactor system (e.g., the reactorand the high-purity gaseous carbon dioxide mixture) can be pressurizedby introducing a stream of Hydrogen gas to the system, which triggersmethanation of the high-purity gaseous carbon dioxide mixture. Inparticular, in this implementation, the high-purity gaseous carbondioxide mixture can be treated (e.g., mixed) with a stream of hydrogen(e.g., a stream of hydrogen gas), in the methanation reactor, in thepresence of a catalyst, to generate a hydrocarbon precursor viamethanation of the high-purity gaseous carbon dioxide mixture. Thehydrocarbon precursor can include methane and impurities such ashydrogen, carbon dioxide, and/or Nitrogen (e.g., less than 350parts-per-million, less than 10 parts-per-million, less than 2parts-per-billion).

For example, upon exiting the methanation reactor, the resultinghydrocarbon precursor (or “initial hydrocarbon mixture”) can exhibit: aconcentration of hydrocarbons (e.g., a concentration of methane greaterthan 96 percent); and a concentration of impurities including aconcentration of carbon dioxide (e.g., less than 1 percent), aconcentration of hydrogen (e.g., less than 2 percent), and aconcentration of Nitrogen (e.g., less than 350 parts-per-million, lessthan 10 parts-per-million, less than ten parts-per-billion). In oneexample, upon exiting the methanation reactor, the resulting hydrocarbonprecursor can exhibit a concentration of Nitrogen (e.g., N2) less than350 parts-per-million. In another example, upon exiting the methanationreactor, the resulting hydrocarbon precursor can exhibit a concentrationof impurities (e.g., including Hydrogen, Carbon Dioxide, Argon, and/orNitrogen) less than a threshold concentration of impurities (e.g., lessthan 0.0005 percent) including a concentration of Nitrogen less than athreshold concentration of Nitrogen (e.g., less than 1.2parts-per-billion), such that the hydrocarbon precursor exhibits amethane carbon concentration exceeding a threshold concentration ofmethane (e.g., greater than 99.9995 percent).

In this implementation, hydrogen gas can be pumped into the methanationreactor to react with the high-purity gaseous carbon dioxide mixture(e.g., in the presence of a catalyst) to generate the hydrocarbonprecursor. In one example, an electrolyzer tank can be coupled to themethanation reactor. The electrolyzer tank can be configured to convertwater stored in the electrolyzer tank into hydrogen gas and oxygen, andthis resulting hydrogen gas can be pumped into the methanation reactor.

In order to generate a hydrocarbon precursor exhibiting a thresholdconcentration of methane (e.g., greater than 95 percent methane) andminimal concentration of impurities (e.g., Nitrogen concentrationmeasured at parts-per-billion), the introduction of Nitrogen and otherimpurities during methanation in the reactor can be minimized. In oneimplementation, a stream of an inert gas (e.g., Argon) is cycled throughthe methanation reactor to purge the methanation reactor of impurities.For example, a stream of Argon can be cycled through the methanationreactor prior to introduction of the high-purity gaseous carbon dioxidemixture into the methanation reactor. Further, in the example, thestream of Argon can be cycled through the methanation reactor bothduring methanation of the high-purity gaseous carbon dioxide mixture(e.g., while the high-purity gaseous carbon dioxide mixture is presentin the methanation reactor) and after the high-purity gaseous carbondioxide mixture exits the methanation reactor to purge impurities fromwithin the methanation reactor and to maintain an operational pressurewithin the methanation reactor. In this example, the resultinghydrocarbon precursor (i.e., the first hydrocarbon mixture) can exhibit:a concentration of hydrocarbons (e.g., a concentration of methane); anda concentration of impurities including carbon dioxide, Hydrogen, Argon,and/or Nitrogen.

In one implementation, the high-purity gaseous carbon dioxide mixturecan be transferred to the methanation reactor, treated with a stream ofHydrogen gas, in the presence of a catalyst, to pressurize thehigh-purity gaseous carbon dioxide mixture in the methanation reactor,and treated with a stream of Argon gas to prevent introduction ofNitrogen to the reactor. Under these conditions, the high-purity gaseouscarbon dioxide mixture can undergo methanation and generate ahydrocarbon precursor exhibiting a concentration of methane greater than97 percent and a concentration of impurities less than 3 percent. Forexample, a stream of Argon can be introduced to the methanation reactorsystem such that the resulting hydrocarbon precursor output from thereaction exhibits a concentration of impurities less than 3 percent, theconcentration of impurities including a Nitrogen concentration less thana threshold concentration of Nitrogen (e.g., less than 350parts-per-million, less than 10 parts-per-million, less than 1.2parts-per-billion).

In one implementation, this hydrocarbon precursor, exhibiting aconcentration of methane greater than 97 percent, serves as thehydrocarbon precursor which undergoes the CVD reaction to generatediamonds in the diamond reactor. Alternatively, as described below, thishydrocarbon precursor (or “initial hydrocarbon precursor”) can undergofurther purification and preparation to generate a more highly-purifiedhydrocarbon precursor.

6.1 Variation: Nitrogen Purge

In one variation, the hydrocarbon precursor can be transferred from themethanation reactor into an accumulator configured to estimate aconcentration of nitrogen present in the hydrocarbon precursor in BlockS132. In this variation, in response to detecting a concentration ofnitrogen exceeding a threshold concentration, the hydrocarbon precursorcan be diverted to a secondary vessel for further processing.Alternatively, in response to detecting the concentration of nitrogenbelow the threshold concentration, the hydrocarbon precursor can beconveyed through the separation unit.

In one implementation, the hydrocarbon precursor can be purified in thebuffer vessel, such that the hydrocarbon precursor can be recovered. Forexample, the hydrocarbon precursor can be transferred from an outlet ofthe methanation reactor into the accumulator. The accumulator caninclude an inline nitrogen reader configured to estimate a concentrationof nitrogen present in the hydrocarbon precursor. Then, in response tothe concentration of nitrogen exceeding a threshold concentration (e.g.,greater than 400 parts-per-million, greater than 10 parts-per-million,greater than 1.2 parts-per-billion), the hydrocarbon precursor can bediverted (e.g., via a purge line) into a buffer vessel. In this example,the hydrocarbon precursor can be conveyed through a secondary separationunit (e.g., a set of filters) configured to remove nitrogen from thehydrocarbon precursor. The hydrocarbon precursor can then be depositedin the buffer vessel including a second inline nitrogen reader installedat an inlet of the buffer vessel and configured to measure theconcentration of nitrogen in the hydrocarbon precursor. Then, inresponse to detecting the concentration of nitrogen below the thresholdconcentration, the hydrocarbon precursor can be transferred from anoutlet of the buffer vessel to an inlet of the separation unit (e.g.,filters, liquefaction unit). Alternatively, the hydrocarbon precursorcan be transferred back to the accumulator for further analysis.

Alternatively, in another implementation, at the accumulator, inresponse to the concentration of nitrogen exceeding the thresholdconcentration of nitrogen in the hydrocarbon precursor, the hydrocarbonprecursor can be diverted to flare.

7. Hydrocarbon Precursor Purification

Block S140 of the method S100 recites: conveying the first hydrocarbonmixture (e.g., from an outlet of the methanation reactor) through aseparation unit configured to remove impurities from the hydrocarbonmixture to generate a second hydrocarbon mixture including hydrocarbonsand a fourth concentration of impurities less than the thirdconcentration of impurities.

The hydrocarbon precursor can be further processed to increase aconcentration of methane and decrease a concentration of impurities inthe mixture. In particular, the hydrocarbon precursor can be transferredfrom an outlet of the methanation unit through a separation unit (e.g.,a set of filters, a liquefaction unit) configured to reduce aconcentration of impurities in the hydrocarbon precursor.

In one implementation, the hydrocarbon precursor can be passed through aset of filters (e.g., a filter membrane) at an outlet of the methanationreactor. The set of filters can be configured to collect impurities—suchas compounds containing Nitrogen (e.g., nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide),hydrogen, carbon dioxide, argon, or other gases (e.g., other thanmethane)—present in the hydrocarbon mixture. For example, thehydrocarbon precursor can exhibit an initial concentration of impuritiesprior to exiting the outlet of the methanation reactor. As thehydrocarbon precursor flows through the outlet of the methanationreactor, the hydrocarbon precursor can also flow through a filtermembrane integrated into the outlet. Upon exiting the outlet and thefilter membrane, the hydrocarbon mixture can exhibit an exitconcentration of impurities (e.g., less than five percent) less than theinitial concentration of impurities. The filter membrane—includingimpurities extracted from the hydrocarbon mixture—can then be cleaned orreplaced prior to a next cycle or in response to an amount (e.g.,quantity, concentration) of impurities in the filter membrane exceedinga threshold amount (e.g., a threshold quantity, a thresholdconcentration). In one example, the hydrocarbon precursor can exhibit aconcentration of impurities less than five percent after passing throughthe set of filters, such that a concentration of hydrocarbons (e.g.,methane) exceeds ninety-five percent. In another example, thehydrocarbon precursor can exhibit a concentration of impurities lessthan three percent after passing through the set of filters, such that aconcentration of hydrocarbons (e.g., methane) exceeds ninety-sevenpercent.

Alternatively, in another implementation, the method S100 includescondensing the initial hydrocarbon precursor via liquefaction togenerate a liquid hydrocarbon mixture exhibiting a second concentrationof methane greater than the first concentration of methane and a fourthconcentration of impurities less than the third concentration ofimpurities. Thus, the gaseous hydrocarbon mixture can be liquefied tofurther purify the mixture before it is run through the CVD reactor.

In this implementation, upon exiting the methanation reactor, theinitial hydrocarbon precursor (e.g., a gaseous hydrocarbon mixture)exhibits a high concentration of methane. After liquefaction of theinitial hydrocarbon precursor, the resulting liquid hydrocarbon mixturecan exhibit a higher concentration of methane by reducing allnon-hydrocarbon gases in this mixture (e.g., nitrogen, carbon dioxide,hydrogen, argon). For example, the initial hydrocarbon precursor canexhibit a concentration of methane greater than 97 percent. This initialhydrocarbon precursor can undergo liquefaction including pressurizingthe gaseous carbon dioxide mixture and cooling the mixture to atemperature below its critical temperature. Once liquefaction of theinitial hydrocarbon precursor is complete, the resulting liquidhydrocarbon mixture can exhibit a concentration of methane greater than99 percent (e.g., 99.9 percent). For example, after liquefaction, theliquid hydrocarbon mixture can exhibit a concentration of hydrocarbons(e.g., methane) exceeding of 99.5 percent and the concentration ofimpurities can be reduced to less than 0.5 percent, including aconcentration of Argon gas between 0.01 percent and 0.10 percent. Inanother example, after liquefaction, the liquid hydrocarbon mixture canexhibit a concentration of methane greater than 99.9 percent and theArgon gas present in the mixture can be reduced to a concentrationbetween 0.01 percent and 0.10 percent. Similarly, NX (e.g., NO, NH₃) gaspresent in the mixture can be reduced even further to a concentrationless than 1.2 parts-per-billion.

In this implementation, the resulting liquid hydrocarbon mixture canthen be converted to a gaseous hydrocarbon mixture in Block S142, thegaseous hydrocarbon exhibiting lower concentrations of impurities thanthe initial hydrocarbon precursor.

In one implementation, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the initialhydrocarbon precursor can be purified according to a particular methodbased on a volume of the initial hydrocarbon precursor. In particular,in this implementation, in response to a volume of the initialhydrocarbon precursor falling below a threshold volume, the initialhydrocarbon precursor can be conveyed through a liquefaction unitconfigured to remove impurities from the hydrocarbon precursor vialiquefaction to generate: an exhaust stream including impurities (e.g.,carbon dioxide, hydrogen, nitrogen); and a final hydrocarbon precursorexhibiting a second concentration of impurities less than a firstconcentration of impurities of the initial hydrocarbon precursor.Alternatively, in response to the volume of the initial hydrocarbonprecursor exceeding the threshold volume, the initial hydrocarbonprecursor can be conveyed through a set of filters (e.g., a membranefilter) configured to collect impurities present in the initialhydrocarbon precursor to generate the final hydrocarbon precursor.

For example, a high volume of carbon dioxide collected by a first carboncapture device semi-permanently deployed at a first target location canbe processed according to Blocks of the method S100 to generate a highvolume of methane gas (i.e., the hydrocarbon precursor). This highvolume of methane gas can be purified via a liquefaction unit configuredto: continuously (e.g., semi-continuously) ingest high volumes ofmethane gas—exhibiting an initial concentration of impurities—generatedfrom carbon dioxide collected at the first target location by the carboncapture device; and continuously (e.g., semi-continuously) output anexhaust stream of impurities and high volumes of methane gas exhibitinga final concentration of impurities less than the initial concentrationof impurities.

Additionally and/or alternatively, in another example, a low volume ofcarbon dioxide collected by a second carbon capture device transientlydeployed to a second target location for a particular event (e.g., asporting event, a wedding, a fundraiser) of a fixed duration can beprocessed according to Blocks of the method S100 to generate a lowvolume of methane gas. This low volume of carbon dioxide and resultinglow volume of methane gas can be processed in a singular, batch processsuch that the low volume of carbon dioxide remains isolated from othervolumes of carbon dioxide not collected from the second target locationand during the particular event. This low volume of methane gas can thenbe purified via a set of filters (e.g., a membrane filter) configuredto: ingest a low volume of methane gas exhibiting an initialconcentration of impurities—generated from carbon dioxide collected atthe second target location by the second carbon capture device; collectimpurities (e.g., hydrogen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen) present in the lowvolume of methane gas; and output methane gas exhibiting a finalconcentration of impurities less than the initial concentration ofimpurities.

8. Additional Purification of the Hydrocarbon Precursor

In one variation, the second hydrocarbon mixture can be transferred fromthe separation unit and conveyed through a compressor to further reduceall non-hydrocarbon gases present in the second hydrocarbon mixture inBlock S144. Additionally and/or alternatively, in another variation, thesecond hydrocarbon mixture can then be further purified via absorptionto generate a highly-purified hydrocarbon precursor (or “finalhydrocarbon precursor”) in Block S146.

Block S144 recites purifying the gaseous hydrocarbon mixture viaabsorption to generate a hydrocarbon precursor exhibiting a thirdconcentration of methane (e.g., after purification via absorption)greater than the second concentration of methane (e.g., prior topurification via absorption) and a fifth concentration of impurities(e.g., after purification via absorption) less than the fourthconcentration of impurities (prior to purification via absorption).Thus, before running the mixture through the diamond reactor (e.g., theCVD reactor), the method S100 can implement a fuel polishing step tofurther purify and prepare the gaseous hydrocarbon mixture for the CVDreactor.

For example, the second hydrocarbon mixture can be run through anabsorption cartridge at a flowrate approximately between 2.0Liters/minute and 3.0 Liters/minute in order to remove NX (e.g., NO,NH₃) and other impurities from the mixture. The absorption cartridge caninclude a filter configured to react with impurities in the gaseoushydrocarbon mixture, such that these impurities cling to the filterwhile the remainder of the gaseous hydrocarbon mixture passes throughthe filter.

Therefore, in this variation, the initial hydrocarbon precursorgenerated via methanation of the carbon dioxide mixture can be purifiedvia filters, liquefaction, drying, compression, adsorption, and/or anycombination of these techniques to generate a higher-purity hydrocarbonprecursor (or “hydrocarbon precursor”). The hydrocarbon precursor canexhibit a sufficiently high concentration of methane (e.g., greater than97 percent) and thus a sufficiently low concentration of impurities(e.g., less than 3 percent) such that, when deposited in the diamondreactor, diamonds may readily grow according to a set rate andexhibiting sufficient quality (e.g., clarity, cut, color, carat weight).In one example, this higher-purity hydrocarbon precursor (i.e., secondhydrocarbon mixture) can exhibit a concentration of methane greater thana threshold concentration of methane (e.g., greater than 99.9995 percentmethane). Additionally and/or alternatively, in another example, thehigher-purity hydrocarbon precursor can exhibit a concentration ofimpurities including a concentration of nitrogen less than 10parts-per-billion (e.g., 2 parts-per-billion, 6 parts-per-billion, 9parts-per-billion).

9. Diamond Reactor

Block S150 of the method S100 recites: depositing the second hydrocarbonmixture in a diamond reactor containing a set of diamond seeds togenerate a first set of diamonds via chemical vapor deposition. In onevariation, Block S150 of the method S100 recites, in a diamond reactorat a set temperature, exposing the hydrocarbon precursor to a diamondseed to generate a diamond crystal via chemical vapor deposition (or“CVD”).

The high-purity hydrocarbon precursor can flow into a CVD reactor (e.g.,a vacuum chamber) configured to generate diamond crystals via chemicalvapor deposition.

For example, a diamond seed can be placed in the CVD reactor. As thehydrocarbon precursor flows into the CVD reactor, the CVD reactor can beheated to very high temperatures (e.g., greater than 800 degreesCelsius). Heating the CVD reactor to these high temperatures causescarbon ions to dispel from hydrocarbon precursor. These carbon ions maylayer into the diamond seed, and the diamond seed can grow into adiamond (e.g., a rough diamond configured to be cut into one or moregemstones).

The CVD reactor requires electricity to generate enough heat for thereaction to occur. In one implementation, a power generator supplieselectricity to the CVD reactor. For example, methane fuels extractedfrom the gaseous hydrocarbon mixture and/or hydrocarbon precursor can berecycled to the power generator, which in turn can supply electricity tothe CVD reactor. Additionally and/or alternatively, landfill gas can becollected and supplied to the power generator to generate electricity.In another implementation, a sustainable power source (e.g., solarpanels, a wind turbine) supplies power to the CVD reactor. Further, asustainable power source can be implemented in combination with a powergenerator to power the CVD reactor. Once the CVD reaction is complete,excess unused power can be returned to the grid for future use.

In one implementation, the high-purity hydrocarbon precursor enters theCVD reactor exhibiting a concentration of methane between 96.0 percentand 99.9999 percent. The CVD reactor can be tuned accordingly based onthe concentration of methane and the concentration of impurities (e.g.,Hydrogen gas, carbon dioxide, Argon, Nitrogen) of the hydrocarbonprecursor. For example, the temperature and pressure in the CVD reactorcan be adjusted based on the concentration of methane in the hydrocarbonprecursor.

Air present in the gaseous hydrocarbon mixture and CVD reactor can bepurged from the CVD reactor to increase efficiency and yield of thereaction. In one implementation, air is purged from the CVD reactor bycycling an inert blend through the CVD reactor. For example, a stream ofHydrogen gas can be cycled through the CVD reactor at set intervalsthroughout the chemical vapor deposition process. Similarly, a stream ofan inert gas (e.g., Argon) can be cycled through the CVD reactor to actas a carrier and therefore improve a rate of the reaction and a rate ofdiamond growth.

The CVD reactor can be configured to grow diamonds from a hydrocarbonprecursor exhibiting a particular concentration of methane (e.g.,methane). Therefore, the flowrate of the hydrocarbon precursor into theCVD reactor can be adjusted to control a concentration of methanepresent in the CVD reactor. For example, if the hydrocarbon precursorexhibits a concentration of methane of 99.9 percent, the flowrate of thehydrocarbon precursor going into the CVD reactor can be lowered.However, if the hydrocarbon precursor exhibits a concentration ofmethane of 97 percent, then the flowrate of the hydrocarbon precursorgoing into the CVD reactor can be increased.

In one variation, a stream of Hydrogen gas is cycled through the CVDreactor at a set flowrate based on the concentration of Hydrogen gas inthe hydrocarbon precursor. For example, if the hydrocarbon precursorexhibits a concentration of methane of 99.99 percent and thus aconcentration of impurities—including Hydrogen gas and carbon dioxide—of0.01 percent, a stream of Hydrogen gas can be cycled through the CVDreactor a first flowrate based on the relatively low concentration ofHydrogen gas present in the hydrocarbon precursor (and the CVD reactor).However, if the hydrocarbon precursor exhibits a concentration ofmethane of 97 percent and thus a concentration of impurities below 3percent, a stream of Hydrogen gas can be cycled through the CVD reactorat a second flowrate less than the first flowrate based on therelatively high concentration of Hydrogen gas already present in thehydrocarbon precursor (and the CVD reactor).

The grow rate of the diamonds in the CVD reactor can be adjusted basedon: the concentration of methane in the hydrocarbon precursor enteringthe CVD reactor; the flow rate of the hydrocarbon precursor can beadjusted to alter the grow rate of the diamonds; and/or the temperaturewithin the CVD reactor

In one implementation, the method S100 can be executed to generateapproximately 80 rough carats of diamond from an initial air capture of10 kg of carbon dioxide.

10. Variation: HP-HT Diamonds

In one variation, diamonds can be generated via aHigh-Pressure-High-Temperature (or “HP-HT) process. In this variation,an HP-HT reactor can replace the CVD reactor in Block S150 of the methodS100.

In this variation, high-purity carbon black or graphite can serve as theinput to the HP-HT reactor, rather than the hydrocarbon precursor. Thehydrocarbon precursor can be generated according to the methodsdescribed above and processed further to generate carbon black orgraphite.

For example, the high-purity carbon dioxide mixture can react togenerate the hydrocarbon precursor (e.g., a high-purity gaseoushydrocarbon mixture) via methanation in Block S130. Graphite can beextracted from the hydrocarbon precursor by heating this mixture in acontained chamber absent oxygen (e.g., via pyrolysis or electrolysis)and in the presence of a catalyst configured to promote this reaction(e.g., an iron-oxide catalyst). Once graphite has been extracted fromthe hydrocarbon precursor, the graphite can be deposited in the HP-HTreactor. A diamond seed can be deposited in the graphite which can thenbe exposed to high temperatures and pressures in the HP-HT reactor.Conditions (e.g., temperature, pressure) within the HP-HT reactor can beset such that the graphite material transforms under these conditionsand thus begins to form a diamond around the diamond seed.

11. Location-Based Air Capture

In one implementation, carbon extracted from air via direct air capturecan be sourced from particular regions or locations via a mobile carboncapture device. This mobile carbon capture device can be configured toextract the low-purity carbon dioxide mixture from air via aminefiltration and to store this mixture for further processing elsewhere(e.g., in a laboratory).

In one variation, the low-purity carbon dioxide mixture can be extractedfrom air from a particular location or place of significance (e.g., tothe diamond owner) such that diamonds generated from carbon capturedfrom this air can be linked to the particular location. For example, acouple may purchase an engagement ring with a diamond generated fromcarbon that is sourced from air in a location of significance to thecouple (e.g., a place where the couple met, a place where the couplevacationed).

In another example, players on a championship football team may receiverings with diamonds generated from carbon sourced from air in thestadium at which the championship game was played. In this example, amobile carbon capture can be deployed to the stadium prior to a start ofthe championship game. The mobile carbon capture device can beconfigured to capture air (e.g., carbon dioxide, nitrogen, argon, etc.)inside the stadium and store the resulting low-purity carbon dioxidemixture within a tank on the mobile carbon capture device. Later, whenthe mobile carbon capture device returns to the lab, the low-puritymixture can be purified and treated as described above to generatediamonds from carbon extracted from the air in the stadium during thechampionship game.

11.1 Linking Diamond to Target Location

A diamond can be generated from carbon extracted from an air samplecollected at a target location. In one implementation, as shown in FIG.3 , each diamond produced via the method S100 can be identified via adiamond identifier (e.g., a serial number). This serial number can belinked to the location, region, or place from which carbon for aparticular diamond was extracted, such that diamond owners or diamondpurchasers may have access to this location. For example, diamondpurchasers may access a database searchable by serial number ofdiamonds. Upon entering a particular serial number, a diamond purchasermay identify the location from which the carbon was sourced for thediamond corresponding to this serial number. Additionally and/oralternatively, a future diamond purchaser may search the database bylocation to identify a set of diamonds generated from carbon sourcedfrom a particular location.

For example, a couple may purchase an engagement ring with a diamondgenerated from carbon that is sourced from air in a location ofsignificance to the couple (e.g., a place where the couple met, a placewhere the couple vacationed). In another example, a user (or “partner”)may wish to purchase an engagement ring for her partner made from carbonsourced from a location near the Pont des Artes Bridge in Paris. Theuser may search the database to find a diamond generated from carbonsourced near this location. The user may purchase this diamond andselect a setting for the diamond to make an engagement ring. Uponpurchasing the diamond, the user may receive a unique serial numberspecific to this diamond, linking the diamond to the location. Later,the user may propose to her partner at the Pont des Artes Bridge inParis with this engagement ring including the diamond made from carbonsourced from this location. The user and the user's partner may latersearch the database via the unique serial number of the diamond to seewhen and where carbon for this diamond was sourced.

In another example, players on a winning Superbowl team may receiverings with diamond rings including diamonds generated from carbonsourced from air in the football stadium at which the championship gamewas played. In this example, a set of carbon capture devices (e.g.,mobile carbon capture devices) can be deployed to the football stadiumhosting the championship game prior to a start of the game. The carboncapture devices can be configured to filter air and collect carbondioxide during the Superbowl game. After the game is finished, lowpurity carbon dioxide mixtures can be collected from each carbon capturedevice deployed. Then, according to the method S100, these mixtures canbe further processed to generate diamonds. Diamond rings can then bemade from these diamonds, which may then be distributed to the playersof the winning team.

11.1.1 Electronic Sample File

In one implementation, an electronic sample file—including locationidentifying information—can be generated for an air sample collected ata target location. To track carbon extracted from an air samplecollected at a target location throughout the entire diamond generationprocess, the electronic sample file can be updated throughout thisprocess to include identifiers linked to intermediate products generatedfrom this air sample. In particular, the electronic sample file caninclude: a location identifier (e.g., a GPS coordinate, an address, aunique identification number linked to the target location)representative of the target location; a set of container identifiers(e.g., barcodes, serial numbers) linked to (e.g., arranged on)containers storing carbon mixtures (e.g., low-purity gaseous mixture,high-purity hydrocarbon mixture) extracted from the air sample collectedat the target location; and/or a set of diamond identifiers (e.g.,serial numbers, barcodes) linked to diamonds generated from carbonextracted from the air sample collected at the target location.

For example, a carbon capture device can ingest an air sample capturedduring an air capture period at a target location for collection of afirst mixture from the air sample, the first mixture including carbondioxide and a first concentration of impurities (e.g., nitrogen). Thisfirst mixture (i.e., the low-purity carbon dioxide mixture) can bestored in a first container associated with the target location. Anelectronic sample file can then be generated (e.g., by a user associatedwith the carbon capture device, by a remote computer system) for thefirst mixture. A location identifier associated with the target locationcan be written to the electronic sample file to link the target locationto the first mixture. Further, a first identifier arranged on the firstcontainer can also be written to the electronic sample file, such thatthe first container can be stored, shipped to a remote location, and/orfurther processed and be readily identified as containing the firstmixture collected at the target location.

Further, in this example, the first mixture can be collected from thefirst container and further processed to generate a second mixtureincluding carbon dioxide and a second concentration of impurities lessthan the first concentration of impurities. The second mixture can thenbe mixed with a stream of hydrogen in a methanation reactor to generatea first hydrocarbon mixture including hydrocarbons and a thirdconcentration of impurities including nitrogen, carbon dioxide, andhydrogen. This first hydrocarbon mixture can then be collected in asecond container. A second identifier arranged on the second containercan then be written to the electronic sample file associated with theinitial air sample collected at the target location.

Later, this first hydrocarbon mixture—linked to the first location viathe second identifier on the second container—can be deposited into adiamond reactor (e.g., a CVD chamber) containing a set of diamond seedsto generate a first set of diamonds. Once the first set of diamonds aregenerated, the first set of diamonds can be collected from the diamondreactor and stored in a third container. A third identifier arranged onthe third container can then be written to the electronic sample file,such that diamonds in the first set of diamonds can be linked to theinitial air sample captured at the target location. Additionally and/oralternatively, each diamond in the first set of diamonds can be assigneda diamond identifier. For example, a first diamond, in the first set ofdiamonds, can be assigned a first diamond identifier (e.g., serialnumber, SKU). This first diamond identifier—associated with the firstdiamond in the first set of diamonds—can be written to the electronicsample file.

Additionally, in this implementation, information contained in theelectronic sample file can be leveraged to generate a database ofdiamonds, each diamond in the database linked to a particular locationfrom which carbon for the diamond was initially captured. For example, afirst electronic sample file can include: a first location identifierassociated with a first target location at which an air sample wascollected; a first container identifier arranged on a first containerconfigured to transiently store the low-purity carbon dioxide mixtureextracted from the air sample; a second container identifier arranged ona second container configured to transiently store the hydrocarbonmixture generated from the low-purity carbon dioxide mixture; a firstdiamond identifier associated with a first diamond generated from thehydrocarbon mixture; and a second diamond identifier associated with asecond diamond generated from the hydrocarbon mixture. The firstelectronic sample file can be uploaded to a searchable, online databasein Block S190, such that users accessing the online database may searchby the first target location to access a list of diamonds—including thefirst and second diamond—generated from carbon extracted at the firsttarget location.

Additionally, in one variation, Block S180 recites: engraving the firstdiamond with the first diamond identifier. The first diamond can beengraved with the first diamond identifier stored in the electronicsample file and linking the first diamond, in the first set of diamonds,to the target location. Thus, a user owning or viewing the first diamondmay search the database by the first diamond identifier to accessinformation related to location of carbon capture for this firstdiamond.

In one variation, as described below, the electronic sample file caninclude additional information related to carbon capture of carbon for adiamond. In particular, the electronic sample file can includeinformation related to: a location of carbon capture; a date or time ofcarbon capture; and/or a type of a carbon source (e.g., ambient air,human breath) and/or people present near the carbon capture deviceduring the air capture period.

11.2 Time-Based Air Capture

Additionally and/or alternatively, in one variation, a diamond can begenerated from carbon extracted from an air sample collected during aparticular time period. For example, a user may wish to purchase adiamond generated from carbon extracted from an air sample collectedduring a particular air capture period such as corresponding to aparticular date (e.g., the user's birthday) or a particular event (e.g.,a sporting event, a historical event). In this example, the user maysearch a database to find a diamond generated from carbon sourced duringthis air capture period.

In one implementation, in which an electronic sample file is generatedfor the air sample, a timestamp corresponding to the air capture periodduring which an air sample was collected can be written to an electronicsample file. Additionally and/or alternatively, a set of timestampscorresponding to the air capture period can be written to the electronicsample file for this air sample, such as an initial timestampcorresponding to a start of the air capture period and a final airsample corresponding to an end of the air capture period. As describedabove, carbon extracted from this air sample can be tracked throughoutthe process—such as via identifiers linked to the correspondinglow-purity gaseous mixture, high-purity gaseous mixture, hydrocarbonmixture—such that each of these intermediate products and the resultingdiamond are linked to the timestamp written in the electronic samplefile.

Additionally and/or alternatively, in another example, a user may wishto purchase a diamond generated from carbon extracted from an air samplecollected at a target location and during a particular air captureperiod, such as corresponding to a particular date or time period duringwhich the user visited the target location. In this example, both alocation identifier corresponding to the target location and a timestampcorresponding to the particular air capture period can be written to anelectronic sample file generated for this air sample.

11.3 Source-Based Air Capture

Additionally and/or alternatively, in one variation, the low-puritycarbon dioxide mixture can be extracted from air collected from aparticular source such that diamonds generated from carbon captured fromthis air can be linked to the particular source. In particular, an airsample can be collected at a target location from a particular sourcesuch as from ambient air, from human breath of a particular person orgroup of persons, or from carbon dioxide bubbles released from a bottleof champagne.

11.3.1 Source: Ambient Air

In one implementation, carbon can be captured from ambient air. Forexample, a carbon capture device can be deployed to a target locationfor carbon capture at this target location. During an air captureperiod, the carbon capture device can be configured to draw ambient airfrom a surrounding environment at the target location into the carboncapture device to extract the low-purity gaseous mixture (i.e., carbondioxide mixture). In one example, the carbon capture device can bedeployed outdoors at a popular destination (e.g., Central Park, theEiffel Tower lawn) and configured to draw ambient air from thisenvironment into the carbon capture device. In another example, thecarbon capture device can be deployed indoors such at a wedding venue ora sporting event.

11.3.2 Source: Human Breath

Additionally, in another implementation, carbon can be captured fromhuman breath. For example, a user (e.g., a “future diamond purchaser”)may wish to generate a diamond from carbon extracted from the air shebreathes. The user may wear a device (e.g., a mask) over her mouth overa period of time (e.g., 30 minutes, 1 hour, 8 hours while sleeping).This device can contain a filter for capturing low-purity carbon dioxidemixture from this user's breath over this period of time. Thislow-purity carbon dioxide mixture can then be extracted from a filter inthis device, and subsequent Blocks of the method can be executed asdescribed above to transform this low-purity carbon dioxide into adiamond, which may then be uniquely linked to this user (and the user'slocation, a date, and/or a time that this carbon dioxide was capturedfrom the user's breath).

11.3.2.1 Example: Engaged Couple

In another example, an engaged couple may wish to create a diamond foran engagement ring from carbon sourced from both of their breath. Thecouple may confine themselves to a contained area (e.g., a clean room ina laboratory, an enclosed booth, a room in their house) and a carboncapture device can be located in this contained area. The carbon capturedevice can filter air in the contained area and extract carbon dioxidefrom the air, thus collecting air and carbon dioxide from the couple'sown breath. Then, the resulting low purity carbon dioxide mixture can beprocessed according to the method S100 as described above to generate adiamond for this couple's engagement ring.

11.3.2.2 Example: Party Guests

In one example, as shown in FIG. 6 , a host or guests of a party (e.g.,a wedding, a fundraiser, a holiday party, a special occasion) may wishto create a diamond (or diamonds) from carbon captured from their breathduring the party. In this example, the carbon capture device can bedeployed to the party (e.g., from a central facility) and installed on atrailer to form a carbon capture trailer. This carbon capture trailercan then be parked and setup at the party (e.g., inside a receptionhall, outside in a park) for carbon capture at a target location of theparty. To power the carbon capture trailer during the party, the carboncapture trailer can be connected to a lower power grid and/or can beconfigured to include a set of rooftop solar panels, such as for anoutdoor party.

In this example, during the party, guests wishing to generate and/orpurchase diamonds from their own breath may: walk into the carboncapture trailer; provide identifying information (e.g., name, phonenumber, email address); and/or complete order forms for diamonds andsettings. The carbon capture trailer can be loaded with a set of aircapture cartridges, such that each air sample collected (e.g., from aparticular guest or group of guests) can be stored in a separate aircapture cartridge linked to a source of the air sample. In particular,each time a new guest or new groups of guests enters the carbon capturetrailer, a new (e.g., clean, empty) air capture cartridge can be loadedinto the carbon capture device, such that breath from this new guest ornew group of guests is collected in the new air capture cartridge.

Further, in this example, the carbon capture trailer can include a photobooth that guests may enter during collection of their breath. The photobooth can be coupled to a first air capture cartridge, such that breathof guests inside the photo booth is routed to and collected within thefirst air capture cartridge. In particular, a group of guests may sit inthe photo booth for a target duration (e.g., 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 30minutes) while breathing during an air capture period. During this aircapture period, the carbon capture device can collect breath of theusers (e.g., from within the enclosed photo booth) in the first aircapture cartridge while the photo booth captures and stores photos ofthe group of guests within the photo booth. Additionally, the photobooth can be configured to capture an audio recording of guests duringthe air capture period. Once the air capture period is complete, anelectronic sample file containing guest names (e.g., in the group ofguests), a date and/or time of the air capture period, the targetlocation of the party, photos and/or audio recordings captured duringthe air capture period can be generated. This electronic sample file canthen be linked to a cartridge identifier (e.g., QR code, barcode, RFIDtag, UUID) corresponding to the first air capture cartridge (e.g.,arranged on the first air capture cartridge) containing breath of thegroup of guests collected during the air capture period.

Once the party is over, contents of the first air capture cartridge canbe processed (e.g., at a remote location) further to generate diamondsaccording to Blocks of the method S100. In this example, contents ofeach air capture cartridge, in the set of air capture cartridges fromthe party, can be processed and stored separately. Alternatively,contents of the set of cartridges can be combined and processed as asingle air sample from the party.

Each diamond generated from contents of the first air capture cartridgecan be engraved with a unique diamond identifier which can then belinked to the electronic sample file. Then, each diamond can be set in asetting (e.g., selected by a guest in the group of guests) to complete aset diamond piece. Each set diamond piece can then be returned to acorresponding guest. For example, a source identifier contained in theelectronic sample file including the unique diamond identifier—can beleveraged to access a user profile (e.g., generated from the user orderform), in a set of user profiles, including user (e.g., guest) contactinformation (e.g., name, email address, phone number, shipping address).A notification indicating generation of the diamond and/or set diamondpiece can be generated and transmitted to the corresponding user via theset of contact information. Additionally and/or alternatively, thediamond and/or set diamond piece can be directly returned to thecorresponding user via the set of contact information.

Further, each set diamond piece can then be returned to a correspondingguests along with: a card containing a web address, a QR code, ausername and password, etc., to access contents of the electronic samplefile linked to a diamond in the set diamond piece; and a magnificationloupe to read the unique diamond identifier from the diamond or setting,which can then be entered into a website (e.g., an online database) toretrieve contents of the electronic sample file linked to the diamond.

Therefore, a guest may leverage the unique diamond identifier on herdiamond or setting to access photos and/or audio recordings capturedduring the air capture period within the photobooth and/or information(e.g., date, time, location, guest names) related to carbon collectionfor this diamond.

11.3.3 Source: Carbon Dioxide Bubbles

In yet another implementation, carbon can be captured from carbondioxide gas released in bubbles of a drink (e.g., a carbonatedbeverage). For example, air can be captured from bubbles released from abottle of sparkling wine. In this example, an owner of a winery may wishto generate a set of diamonds from carbon captured from carbon dioxidebubbles released from a bottle of sparkling wine produce by the winery.The user may place the bottle of sparkling wine in a contained space(e.g., container) and the carbon capture device can be configured todraw air from within the contained space. Then, when the owner opens thebottle of sparkling wine and carbon dioxide bubbles are released, thecarbon capture device can draw this carbon dioxide gas—mixed withambient air from the contained space—into the carbon capture device.Then, the resulting carbon dioxide mixture can be processed according tothe method S100 as described above to generate a set of diamonds for theowner, employees and/or patrons of this winery.

In each of these implementations, a source identifier corresponding to acarbon source (e.g., ambient air, human breath, carbon dioxide bubbles)can be written to the electronic sample file for the air sample. Thus,in one example, a user may search a database for a diamond generatedfrom carbon captured from: a particular common space (e.g., a park) byentering (e.g., selecting from a list or typing into the database) asource identifier corresponding to ambient air collected at thisparticular common space; the user's own breath by entering a sourceidentifier unique to human breath captured from this user; or aparticular bottle of a sparkling beverage by entering a sourceidentifier unique to carbon captured from carbon dioxide gas releasedfrom this particular bottle.

11.4 Permanent or Semi-Permanent Deployment

In one implementation, the carbon capture device can be permanentlyand/or semi-permanently deployed to a target location and configured tocapture carbon from air samples collected at this target location. Forexample, the carbon capture device can be mounted to an existingbuilding or structure or installed in a public space or within acommercial store such that users may visit and/or access the carboncapture device.

In this implementation, the carbon capture device can be configured tocollect air samples at this target location continuously, at regularintervals (e.g., once per hour, once per day, once per week), and/orresponsive to an input by a user (e.g., manually). The carbon capturedevice can be configured to collect these air samples over an aircapture period of a target duration (e.g., 10 minutes, 30 minutes, 1hour, 24 hours, 1 week).

11.4.1 Example: Park Installation

For example, a carbon capture device can be semi-permanently installedin a park (e.g., a heavily trafficked park). The carbon capture devicecan be configured to collect air samples at this park daily, such ascollecting an air sample each day over a 12-hour period during which thepark is open to the public. Each day, during this 12-hour period, thecarbon capture device can be configured to continuously orsemi-continuously draw air from the park through a set of inlets (e.g.,one inlet, three inlets, ten inlets) of the carbon capture device.

Further, the carbon capture device can be configured to include a set ofcontainers, each container configured to collect a volume of alow-purity carbon dioxide mixture and corresponding to a particular dayof the week. At an end of the week, the set of containers can be removedfrom the carbon capture device (e.g., while at the park) and transportedto a remote facility for processing according to Blocks of the methodsS100. A fresh (e.g., dean) set of containers can then be installed inthe carbon capture device to replace the previous set of containers.Each container, in the set of containers, can be linked to this park andto a time period of collection of the air sample, such that users (e.g.,guests visiting the park) may locate and/or purchase diamonds generatedfrom carbon captured from this park during a particular time period.

In particular, a user may wish to visit the park so that she mayeventually purchase a diamond generated from carbon captured at the parkduring a particular time period corresponding to her visit at the park.During the particular time period, the carbon capture device can drawambient air from the park into the set of inlets of the carbon capturedevice for extraction and storage of a volume of the low-purity carbondioxide mixture into a first container, in the set of containers. Duringinstallation of the set of containers and/or upon collection of the setof containers, an electronic sample file can be generated including: afirst container identifier corresponding to the first container; a firstlocation identifier corresponding to the park; and a first timestampcorresponding to a particular air capture period—including theparticular time period during which the user visited the park—duringwhich the volume of the low-purity carbon dioxide mixture in the firstcontainer was collected.

Later, once the volume of the low-purity carbon dioxide mixture in thefirst container is converted to a set of diamonds, a unique diamondidentifier can be assigned to each diamond, in the set of diamonds, togenerate a set of diamond identifiers. The set of diamond identifier canthen be written to the electronic sample file. The user may then findand locate a first diamond, in the set of diamonds, that she wishes topurchase by searching an online database by location (i.e., the firstlocation identifier) and time (i.e., the first timestamp) to locate thefirst set of diamonds generated from carbon captured during the user'svisit at the park.

11.4.2 Example: Carbon Capture Booth

In another example, a carbon capture device can be semi-permanentlyinstalled in a target location as a carbon capture booth (e.g., anenclosed booth, a “phone booth”) configured to collect human breath froma particular user or a particular set of users for a target duration.

In particular, in this example, a user may wish to purchase a diamondgenerated from carbon captured from her own breath. The user may enterthe booth and place a mask contained in the booth over her mouth toinitiate collection of the low-purity carbon dioxide mixture from herbreath. In this example, the carbon capture device can include a userinterface configured to collect user information (e.g., name, contactinformation) and/or provide instructions to the user.

The carbon capture device can be configured to draw the user's breathinto the carbon capture device for extraction of the low-purity carbondioxide mixture for a target duration (e.g., 10 minutes, 30 minutes, 1hour). The carbon capture device can collect this low-purity carbondioxide mixture in a first container, in a set of containers, includinga first container identifier (e.g., barcode, serial number,identification number) arranged on a surface of the first container. Inresponse to expiration of the target duration, the user interface of thecarbon capture device can render a code for the user to later track hersample of the low-purity carbon dioxide mixture throughout processingand/or to locate a diamond generated from this sample. Additionallyand/or alternatively, the user interface can be configured to output areceipt including the code for the user to take with her.

11.5 Transient Deployment

In another implementation, the carbon capture device can be transientlydeployed to a target location, such as for a particular event of a fixedduration. For example, the carbon capture device can be deployed to thetarget location for a fixed duration and returned to a centralfacility—carrying a set of containers of the low-purity carbon dioxidemixture collected at the target location—for processing of thelow-purity carbon dioxide mixture to generate diamonds. Similarly, inthis implementation, the carbon capture device can be configured to:collect air samples at this target location continuously, at regularintervals (e.g., once every 10 minutes, once every 30 minutes, once perhour, once per a duration of an associated event), and/or responsive(e.g., manually) to an input by a user associated with the carboncapture device; and collect these air samples over an air capture periodof a target duration (e.g., 10 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, a durationof an associated event).

11.5.1 Example: Carbon Capture at a Party

For example, a primary user may wish to purchase a necklace with adiamond generated from carbon that is sourced from air (e.g., ambientair, human breath) collected during her wedding reception in aparticular venue. Prior to the wedding reception, the carbon capturedevice can be deployed to the venue for setup. During the weddingreception, the carbon capture device can be configured to continuouslyor semi-continuously draw air from the venue through an inlet of thecarbon capture device for collection of a volume of the low-puritycarbon dioxide mixture into a set of containers (e.g., one or morecontainers).

Additionally and/or alternatively, the carbon capture device can beconfigured to capture a volume of the low-purity carbon dioxide frombreath of users (e.g., guests) attending the wedding reception at thevenue. In particular, a user (e.g., a guest) may wear a device (e.g.,mask) over his mouth over an air capture period of a fixed duration(e.g., 1 minute, 5 minutes, 20 minutes). The device can include a filterconfigured to capture the low-purity carbon dioxide mixture from theuser's breath. The user may then enter or receive a unique sourceidentifier (e.g., a name of the user, an email address of the user, aunique code generated for the user) associated with this user and linkedto a container storing the low-purity carbon dioxide mixture collectedfrom this user's breath. In this example, the carbon capture device canbe configured to store the low-purity carbon dioxide mixture collectedfrom the this user's breath in a container unique to this user's breath(e.g., a personal container) or in a container configured to store alow-purity carbon dioxide mixture collected from multiple or all guestsattending the party.

Throughout the fixed duration of the wedding reception, the carboncapture device can continue to capture low-purity carbon dioxidemixtures from breath of additional users wearing the device. Each ofthese users may receive a unique source identifier associated with theuser and linked to a container, in a set of containers, storing thelow-purity carbon dioxide mixture collected from the user's breath.

Additionally, each container, in the set of containers, can include aunique container identifier (e.g., a barcode, a serial number) arrangedon the container. These container identifiers can then be written to anelectronic sample file generated for carbon captured during the weddingreception. Further, the electronic sample can include: a locationidentifier linked to a location of the venue (e.g., an address, ageographic region, a name of the venue); a timestamp corresponding to atime period during which the wedding reception occurred; a set of sourceidentifiers, each source identifier linked to a particular user and aparticular container identifier arranged on a particular container, inthe set of containers, storing a volume of the low-purity carbon dioxidemixture collected from the particular user's breath. Therefore, bylinking the low-purity carbon dioxide mixture and resulting diamonds tothe location identifier, the set of source identifiers, and thetimestamp, the primary user may later locate and purchase a diamond,from the set of diamonds, generated from carbon captured from ambientair and breath of her wedding guests during the wedding reception at thevenue. Further, other users (e.g., wedding guests) may later locateand/or purchase diamonds generated from carbon captured from each oftheir own breath.

Once the wedding reception is over, each container, in the set ofcontainers, storing a volume of the low-purity carbon dioxide mixturecan be transported to a remote facility for further processing accordingto Blocks of the method S100. For example, the carbon capturedevice—including the set of containers—can be returned to a processingfacility. The set of containers can be removed from the carbon capturedevice for processing according to Blocks of the method S100 at theprocessing facility and/or shipped to a secondary location foradditional processing. The carbon capture device can then be loaded witha second set of clean (e.g., empty) containers and prepared forredeployment to a different location.

As a person skilled in the art will recognize from the previous detaileddescription and from the figures and claims, modifications and changescan be made to the embodiments of the invention without departing fromthe scope of this invention as defined in the following claims.

We claim:
 1. A method comprising: ingesting an air sample, collected ata target location during an air capture period, for extraction of afirst mixture, comprising carbon dioxide and a first concentration ofimpurities, from the air sample; collecting the first mixture in a firstcontainer associated with the target location; conveying the firstmixture through a pressurized unit to generate: a first exhaust streamcomprising impurities; and a second mixture comprising carbon dioxideand a second concentration of impurities less than the firstconcentration of impurities; converting the second mixture from a liquidstate, at a first outlet of the pressurized unit, to a gaseous state;conveying the second mixture through a filter unit configured to removeimpurities comprising nitrogen from the second mixture, the secondmixture comprising a third concentration of impurities less than thesecond concentration of impurities at a second outlet of the filterunit; in a methanation reactor, located at a secondary location remotefrom the target location, mixing the second mixture, in the gaseousstate, with a stream of hydrogen to generate a hydrocarbon mixturecomprising hydrocarbons and a fourth concentration of impuritiescomprising nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen; depositing thehydrocarbon mixture in a diamond reactor containing a set of diamondseeds to generate a set of diamonds via chemical vapor deposition;generating an electronic sample file linked to the target location; andlinking a diamond identifier, associated with a first diamond, in theset of diamonds, to the electronic sample file to link the first diamondto the target location.
 2. The method of claim 1: wherein generating theelectronic sample file linked to the target location comprises:generating the electronic sample file; accessing a location identifierassociated with the target location; and writing the location identifierto the electronic sample file; and further comprising, writing a firstcontainer identifier, associated with the first container, to theelectronic sample file to link the first container to the targetlocation.
 3. The method of claim 1: wherein conveying the first mixturethrough the pressurized unit comprises transferring the first mixturefrom the first container and through the pressurized unit; furthercomprising collecting the hydrocarbon mixture in a second containerassociated with the target location; and wherein depositing thehydrocarbon mixture in the diamond reactor comprises transferring thehydrocarbon mixture from the second container into the diamond reactor.4. The method of claim 3: further comprising: writing a first containeridentifier, arranged on the first container, to the electronic samplefile to link the first container to the target location; and writing asecond container identifier, arranged on the second container, to theelectronic sample file to link the second container to the targetlocation based on the first container identifier; and wherein linkingthe diamond identifier to the electronic sample file to link the firstdiamond to the target location comprises linking the diamond identifierto the electronic sample file to link the first diamond to the targetlocation based on the first container identifier and the secondcontainer identifier.
 5. The method of claim 1: wherein generating theelectronic sample file linked to the target location comprisesgenerating the electronic sample file linked to the target location andthe air capture period; further comprising: writing a locationidentifier, associated with the target location, to the electronicsample file; and writing a time value, corresponding to the air captureperiod, to the electronic sample file; and wherein linking the diamondidentifier to the electronic sample file to link the first diamond tothe target location comprises writing the diamond identifier to theelectronic sample file to link the first diamond to the target locationand the air capture period.
 6. The method of claim 1: wherein generatingthe electronic sample file linked to the target location comprises:generating the electronic sample file; and writing a location identifierassociated with the target location to the electronic sample file; andwherein linking the diamond identifier to the electronic sample file tolink the first diamond to the target location comprises: engraving thefirst diamond with the diamond identifier; and writing the diamondidentifier to the electronic sample file to link the first diamondidentifier, arranged on the first diamond, to the location identifierassociated with the target location.
 7. The method of claim 1: furthercomprising: conveying the hydrocarbon mixture through a separation unitconfigured to remove impurities from the hydrocarbon mixture; andcollecting the hydrocarbon mixture in a second container at a secondoutlet of the separation unit, the hydrocarbon mixture comprisinghydrocarbons and a fifth concentration of impurities, less than thefourth concentration of impurities, at the second outlet; and whereindepositing the hydrocarbon mixture in the diamond reactor comprisestransferring the hydrocarbon mixture from the second container into thediamond reactor.
 8. The method of claim 7: wherein conveying thehydrocarbon mixture through the separation unit comprises conveying thehydrocarbon mixture through the separation unit to generate: a secondexhaust stream comprising impurities; and the hydrocarbon mixture, in aliquid state, comprising the fifth concentration of impurities; furthercomprising converting the hydrocarbon mixture from the liquid state to agaseous state; wherein collecting the hydrocarbon mixture in the secondcontainer at the second outlet of the separation unit comprisescollecting the hydrocarbon mixture, in the gaseous state, in the secondcontainer at the second outlet of the separation unit; and whereindepositing the second hydrocarbon mixture in the diamond reactorcomprises depositing the hydrocarbon mixture, in the gaseous state, inthe diamond reactor.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein depositing thehydrocarbon mixture in the diamond reactor containing the set of diamondseeds to generate the set of diamonds comprises depositing thehydrocarbon mixture in the diamond reactor containing the set of diamondseeds to generate the set of diamonds, each diamond in the set ofdiamonds: comprising carbon sourced from air captured at the targetlocation and during the air capture period; and excluding carbon sourcedvia mining.
 10. The method of claim 1: wherein ingesting the air sample,collected at the target location during the air capture period, forextraction of the first mixture comprises ingesting the air sample,collected from an air source at the target location during the aircapture period, for extraction of the first mixture; further comprising:writing a location identifier, associated with the target location, tothe electronic sample file; writing a time value, corresponding to theair capture period, to the electronic sample file; and writing a sourceidentifier, associated with the air source, to the electronic samplefile; and wherein linking the diamond identifier to the electronicsample file to link the first diamond to the target location compriseswriting the diamond identifier to the electronic sample file to link thefirst diamond to the target location, the air capture period, and theair source.
 11. The method of claim 10: wherein ingesting the airsample, collected from the air source at the target location during theair capture period, for extraction of the first mixture comprisesingesting the air sample for extraction of the first mixture, the airsample collected at the target location, during the air capture period,and from the air source comprising human breath of a set of users; andwherein writing the diamond identifier to the electronic sample file tolink the first diamond to the target location, the air capture period,and the air source comprises writing the diamond identifier to theelectronic sample file to link the first diamond to the target location,the air capture period, and human breath of the set of users.
 12. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: linking a second diamondidentifier, associated with a second diamond, in the set of diamonds, tothe electronic sample file to link the second diamond to the targetlocation; and writing the electronic sample file to a databasecomprising a set of electronic sample files, each electronic samplefile, in the set of electronic sample files, comprising a list ofdiamonds comprising carbon sourced from a particular target location ina set of target locations.
 13. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: during an initial time period: deploying a carbon capturedevice to the target location; and during the air capture period withinthe initial time period, capturing the air sample at the targetlocation; wherein ingesting the air sample for collection of the firstmixture comprises, during the initial time period, ingesting the airsample for collection of the first mixture at the target location;wherein storing the first mixture in the first container associated withthe target location comprises, during the initial time period,collecting the first mixture in the first container for storage duringtransportation of the first mixture from the target location to thesecondary location; comprising a first container identifier arranged onthe first container; wherein generating the electronic sample filelinked to the target location comprises, during the initial time period:generating the electronic sample file; writing a location identifierassociated with the target location to the electronic sample file; andwriting the first container identifier to the electronic sample file;and further comprising, transporting the first container from the targetlocation to the secondary location.
 14. The method of claim 1, whereindepositing the hydrocarbon mixture in the diamond reactor comprisesdepositing the second hydrocarbon mixture in the diamond reactor, thesecond hydrocarbon mixture comprising: the fourth concentration ofimpurities less than five percent and comprising nitrogen comprisingless than 1.2 parts-per-billion; and a concentration of methane greaterthan ninety-five percent.
 15. A method comprising: ingesting a first airsample, collected at a target location during a first air captureperiod, for extraction of a first mixture from the first air sample, thefirst mixture comprising carbon dioxide and a first concentration ofimpurities; conveying the first mixture through a pressurized unit topromote liquefaction of the first mixture to generate: a first exhauststream comprising impurities; and a second mixture comprising carbondioxide and a second concentration of impurities less than the firstconcentration of impurities; converting the second mixture from a liquidstate, at a first outlet of the pressurized unit, to a gaseous state;conveying the second mixture, in the gaseous state, through a filterunit configured to remove impurities comprising nitrogen from the secondmixture, the second mixture comprising a third concentration ofimpurities less than the second concentration of impurities at a secondoutlet of the filter unit; in a methanation reactor, mixing the secondmixture, in the gaseous state, with a stream of hydrogen to generate ahydrocarbon mixture comprising hydrocarbons and a fourth concentrationof impurities comprising nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen;depositing the hydrocarbon mixture in a diamond reactor, containing aset of diamond seeds, to generate a first set of diamonds via chemicalvapor deposition; and linking the first set of diamonds to the firsttarget location.
 16. The method of claim 15: wherein mixing the secondmixture with the stream of hydrogen to generate the hydrocarbon mixturein the methanation reactor comprises, at a secondary location remotefrom the target location, mixing the second mixture with the stream ofhydrogen to generate the hydrocarbon mixture in the methanation reactor;and wherein linking the first set of diamonds to the first targetlocation comprises: generating an electronic sample file; writing alocation identifier corresponding to the target location to theelectronic sample file; and writing a first diamond identifier,associated with a first diamond, in the set of diamonds, to theelectronic sample file to link the first diamond to the target location.17. The method of claim 16: further comprising: collecting the firstmixture in a first container at the target location; writing a firstcontainer identifier, arranged on the first container, to the electronicsample file to link the first mixture to the target location;transporting the first container, containing the first mixture, from thetarget location to the secondary location for further processing;collecting the hydrocarbon mixture in a second container at thesecondary location; and writing a second container identifier, arrangedon the second container, to the electronic sample file to link thehydrocarbon mixture to the target location; and wherein depositing thehydrocarbon mixture in the diamond reactor comprises transferring thehydrocarbon mixture from the second container into the diamond reactor.18. The method of claim 15: wherein ingesting the first air sample,collected at the target location during the first air capture period,for extraction of the first mixture comprises ingesting the air sample,collected from an air source at the target location during the first aircapture period, for extraction of the first mixture; further comprising:writing a location identifier, associated with the target location, tothe electronic sample file; writing a time value, corresponding to thefirst air capture period, to the electronic sample file; and writing asource identifier, associated with the air source, to the electronicsample file; and wherein linking the diamond identifier to theelectronic sample file to link the first diamond to the target locationcomprises writing the diamond identifier to the electronic sample fileto link the first diamond to the target location, the first air captureperiod, and the air source.
 19. The method of claim 18: whereiningesting the air sample collected from the air source comprisesingesting the air sample collected from the air source comprising humanbreath of a user; and further comprising: accessing a diamond order, ina set of diamond orders, specified by the user based on the sourceidentifier; and assembling a first set piece according to the diamondorder, the first set piece comprising the first diamond arranged in aparticular setting.
 20. The method of claim 15: wherein mixing thesecond mixture with the stream of hydrogen to generate the hydrocarbonmixture in the methanation reactor comprises, at a secondary locationremote from the target location, mixing the second mixture with thestream of hydrogen to generate the hydrocarbon mixture in themethanation reactor; and further comprising: ingesting a second airsample, collected at a second target location during a second aircapture period, for extraction of a third mixture from the second airsample, the third mixture comprising carbon dioxide and impurities; atthe secondary location, in the methanation reactor, mixing the thirdmixture with a second stream of hydrogen to generate a secondhydrocarbon mixture comprising hydrocarbons and impurities comprisingnitrogen, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen; depositing the secondhydrocarbon mixture in the diamond reactor, containing a second set ofdiamond seeds, to generate a second set of diamonds via chemical vapordeposition; and linking the second set of diamonds to the second targetlocation.